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Damn. I had no idea things were so bad in SF. I was there a few weeks ago to visit friends and my rental car window got smashed and 15k+ in electronics and jewe

by rank0 4y ago

Damn. I had no idea things were so bad in SF. I was there a few weeks ago to visit friends and my rental car window got smashed and 15k+ in electronics and jewelry were stolen. I chalked it up to just being a big city. There’s plenty of crime where I live so I didn’t think much of it. Maybe it really is extra bad in the Bay Area… There was also constant solicitation for petitions of all sorts. Nobody I spoke with seemed to have a coherent plan beyond raising taxes. I was chastised by a woman in a $2MM house for not having solar panels on my property in Georgia like she has. In my head I’m shouting “I can’t afford that shit!” Perhaps the Bay Area residents should study up on taxation and economics before passing half baked legislation.

anigbrowl 4y ago
They aren't. It's a trash, deceptive article. This isn't to say SF doesn't have real problems (it has a lot of then), but I barely recognize them in this caricature of a piece. It's worth noting that the author evokes the spirit of her great(-great?) grandfather in the opening paragraph, describing him as a humble butcher's mate. She omits to mention that he went on to become the largest private landowner in US history, at one point owning ~2 million acres of land in California, Oregon and Nevada with his business partner. I'm a little skeptical when someone who comes from extreme wealth tries to direct attention away from it. Bowles repeatedly mentions old-time gossip columnist and SF journalistic institution Herb Caen, who died in 1997 only a short time after filing his last column. While lamenting that disappearance of 'Baghdad by the Bay,' his affectionate nickname for the city, she ignores the fact that SF was in the grip of a crack epidemic for much of the 1990s and crime was ~40% higher than recent highs. It was a lot more dangerous back then. The 1970s were pretty rough as well. Bowles frames the recent DA's race as a confrontation between liberals and leftists, while skating over the fact that the recall effort was largely financed by conservative donors from outside the city, accompanied by a PR blitz heralding the result as a political sea change. It's a superficial article that ignores the structural factors or historical context in favor of simplistic pandering.
- Gibbon1 4y ago
  > SF was in the grip of a crack epidemic for much of the 1990s and crime was ~40% higher than recent highs. Comment from my GF that lived through that in SF. Used to be when leaving a taqueria crackheads would snatch the burrito out of you hands if you weren't careful. When you ate in a restaurant you kept the strap of your purse around your arm same reason. And personal experience car breakins are nothing new. Bonus: I remember Valencia street at night in the 80's. Failed city, please.
  - DiggyJohnson 4y ago
    I genuinely do not understand which point you’re trying to make. What your GF described in the 1990s and what we (individually different perspectives) see peaking right now in the 20s both describe failed or failing urban environments. I do not accept that this is normal for any American city. I don’t like disagreeing or criticizing a city I have little experience with - believe me I’m from Jax, FL - it’s not an extremely affluent city. What you describe is unacceptable for any proud or hopeful American.
    - Gibbon1 4y ago
      There are three things going on. The reality on the ground as portrayed by the media doesn't match the actuality at all. There is also the perspective of your racist light tech bro that grew up in a traditional racially segregated upper class white neighborhood. That is super annoyed with having to live amongst blacks, Hispanics, and step over random ne'er-do-wells. Then there are the very wealthy real estate interests who think if only you could push up the blacks, Hispanics, and scruffy looking people they would be even wealthier.
      - DiggyJohnson 4y ago
        Man we totally disagree… I think your worldview is very very sad. But I don’t think I can convince you to see a better side of humanity. Cheers

by rank0 4y ago

anigbrowl 4y ago

They aren't. It's a trash, deceptive article. This isn't to say SF doesn't have real problems (it has a lot of then), but I barely recognize them in this caricature of a piece. It's worth noting that the author evokes the spirit of her great(-great?) grandfather in the opening paragraph, describing him as a humble butcher's mate. She omits to mention that he went on to become the largest private landowner in US history, at one point owning ~2 million acres of land in California, Oregon and Nevada with his business partner. I'm a little skeptical when someone who comes from extreme wealth tries to direct attention away from it. Bowles repeatedly mentions old-time gossip columnist and SF journalistic institution Herb Caen, who died in 1997 only a short time after filing his last column. While lamenting that disappearance of 'Baghdad by the Bay,' his affectionate nickname for the city, she ignores the fact that SF was in the grip of a crack epidemic for much of the 1990s and crime was ~40% higher than recent highs. It was a lot more dangerous back then. The 1970s were pretty rough as well. Bowles frames the recent DA's race as a confrontation between liberals and leftists, while skating over the fact that the recall effort was largely financed by conservative donors from outside the city, accompanied by a PR blitz heralding the result as a political sea change. It's a superficial article that ignores the structural factors or historical context in favor of simplistic pandering.

Gibbon1 4y ago
> SF was in the grip of a crack epidemic for much of the 1990s and crime was ~40% higher than recent highs. Comment from my GF that lived through that in SF. Used to be when leaving a taqueria crackheads would snatch the burrito out of you hands if you weren't careful. When you ate in a restaurant you kept the strap of your purse around your arm same reason. And personal experience car breakins are nothing new. Bonus: I remember Valencia street at night in the 80's. Failed city, please.
- DiggyJohnson 4y ago
  I genuinely do not understand which point you’re trying to make. What your GF described in the 1990s and what we (individually different perspectives) see peaking right now in the 20s both describe failed or failing urban environments. I do not accept that this is normal for any American city. I don’t like disagreeing or criticizing a city I have little experience with - believe me I’m from Jax, FL - it’s not an extremely affluent city. What you describe is unacceptable for any proud or hopeful American.
  - Gibbon1 4y ago
    There are three things going on. The reality on the ground as portrayed by the media doesn't match the actuality at all. There is also the perspective of your racist light tech bro that grew up in a traditional racially segregated upper class white neighborhood. That is super annoyed with having to live amongst blacks, Hispanics, and step over random ne'er-do-wells. Then there are the very wealthy real estate interests who think if only you could push up the blacks, Hispanics, and scruffy looking people they would be even wealthier.
    - DiggyJohnson 4y ago
      Man we totally disagree… I think your worldview is very very sad. But I don’t think I can convince you to see a better side of humanity. Cheers